Silver Moon
Adventurer
Looks like the ENWorld reset put us back a ways. Thankfully I've been cross-posting to Dragonsfoot.org. I'll repost a chapter a day here until we get caught back up again.
Chapter 89, “The Ride to Gizah”, September 11, 1882, 6:30 P.M.
Before leaving the Temple of Ra, Ruby asks, “Is there any other equipment that we might need? Perhaps the priests here might have some healing potions they could part with. Any other mundane equipment before we go?" Lawrence pipes up. "Yes, healing elixirs would come in handy. Some long guns would be nice, but I doubt they have any lying around the temple. With martial law it's probably too risky to go out looking for any either."
Ruby says, "Don't we have a whole army somewhere at our disposal? I mean, I'm sure they could spare some guns for us." She asks one of the higher clerics, "Is it possible you might have some healing potions available? We are about to aide the King and the Princess and other Royal Family members are most assuredly our lives will be in danger." Lawrence says, "Right. The Franklin Pierce should have something for us. Thanks for reminding me." "No problem Lawrence!" Ruby gave him a wink. "Do we have time to get there and get supplies before we have to run off though?"
"I don't know how useful rifles will be inside the pyramid. But I do know that we ought to get our hands on some magical ammo. We had a dickens of a time getting through some of those barriers back in the palace." suggests George. Ruby says, "Good point George. I'm not sure where to buy that but there has got to be a place here in this magical city we can get some of that." Mina says, "Not likely, with a pending war. All of the military officers with any money would have scooped them all up."
Mina then pulls out a small leather bag and pours around two-dozen bullet shells out onto the table. They note that the brass on the shells have rims plated with different metal, with four each of platnum, gold, silver, bronze, copper and nickel. She says, "But we did get these, that pouch was worn by the French Foreign Legion officer who died on the lower level of the Dreadnaught. The bullets are a unique size." She then takes out a small wooden case and opens it up to show a pair of revolvers and says, "This case was near the door. These are custom-made dueling pistols, which are just single-shot weapons. There's no way of knowing what the different bullet types do."
"Well, no time to test, if we need to we try in battle" replies George. Ruby says, "Well, we've got two guns and some magic bullets. We'll save them for if and when we absolutely have to make a shot and hope the bullets help. Who is getting the guns?" "Why don't you and Abby take them." suggests George.
Abby says, "Alright, although I'd like a weapon with standard ammunition as well if we can get our hands on it. If we're in tight quarters I don't want to be firing rounds that could be explosive. No good to take out an enemy if you take yourself and your friends out at the same time." "heck if Ruby hasn't blown us up yet, you won't" laughs George. Abby widened her eyes comically. "Oh, a challenge!"
Ruby says, "We have to be able to get you a gun somewhere Abby. I'm surprised you haven't been carrying on around all this time!" Abby shrugged with a little smile. "I've never been in a battle before. I'm actually better with a firearm than with my blade, but generally I've only needed to drive off or discourage locals around the cities near dig sites. I haven't needed more than my spells and the blade for that."
"Alright I'll take one," Ruby says while pulling one of the new guns out of the case. She takes two of each of the colored bullets. "This should be interesting, not knowing what these do. So, what's our plan next? Just ride out to the pyramid since we probably can't get any other magic on the street at this point?" "In any case, I think, well, I hope we will only need guns to get through any guards and to deal with the French, I am counting on Diplomacy to win the day with the King." adds George.
Hardin arrives with the party's horses. He receives messages from the group and then rides back to the telegraph office where Cetan, Meren and Alsoomse still are, leaving the other seven mounts for the party. Ruby declares, "Alright then, so do we have everything we need or should I say, everything we're going to have to leave then?"
Dressed in the robes of Priests, Priestesses and Acolytes, the seven mount up and proceed westward through the city of a half-million people. Under martial law the city appears strangely deserted, with soldiers at the major intersections but nobody else about. Sabah shows the soldiers her holy symbol of Bast and explains that it is urgent that they get to Gizah as quickly as possible. Abby stayed close to Sabah, but kept her head down, as an acolyte might, but ready to take action if she had to.
In order to exit the city they have to cross tributaries of the Nile at two separate locations. The first has a bridge that they cross after considerable discussion with the Army Captain in charge of guarding it. The second requires a crossing in a ferry boat, which presents a problem as the ferryboat operator fears that if he leaves the boathouse the soldiers will shoot him for not being in his home. The ferry boat consists of a small flat barge with side rails and the steam powered motor on the end besides the steering wheel that is connected underneath to the rudder.
George asks the man if they can pay for the ferry ride but that George will pilot the boat so the ferryman will be safe. They settle upon a generous price which George pay. It takes a little while to secure the horses and to bring the fire up to a full head of steam, but once that it done they proceed across the Nile with relative ease. Once on the opposite shore the fire is lowered and the craft secured.
Abby scanned the area before taking the horse's reins and leading it off the ferry. It would be foolish to assume no one would try to stop them from reaching the Pyramid, and she was tired of being taken off her guard. With the ferry secured George leads the groups swiftly towards the pyramid. Noting Abby's watchfulness George comments "Caution is always valuable Abby, but we must move with alacrity. We have a deadline of midnight." Abby states, "Dead will slow you down considerably more."
"But she is right George, we must keep our eyes open too." Ruby hops up onto her horse. It was always tense before a fight and who knew what they were going to come up against. She stole a glance back towards her grandmother. The older woman gave her a reassuring smile. She had done this many more times than Ruby had and it did reassure her. "Alright. Do we have a plan once we get there? I guess we'll have to see what it's like once we arrive but we could certainly try to use the way we..." She stops short and gives Abby a knowing glance, wondering how completely they can trust Sabah. George smiles "Oh indeed, that is true. But if we move cautiously to reach the pyramids safely, but too late to save the country we may be dead regardless."
It takes a mile before they leave the outer sections of Cairo and head off into the dessert in the direction of the distant pyramids. Freya tells the party some of her background. Her Grandfather was an actual Asgardian. Their story goes back almost a thousand years, when a trio consisting of an Asgardian demigod in human form, an Asgardian dwarf and an Asgardian Frost Giant came to Midgard (Earth) to help the Viking people. Their quests lasted for centuries and the demigod sired many children with earth women, just as the Asgardian dwarf did with earth dwarves.
Their final quest was at the beginning of this century, against Napoleon's armies, when the French leader desired to take over northern Europe. During that quest they also retrieved from France the stuffed carcass of a Black Dragon Earth Spirit who had once been a friend of the Viking people. Odin in turn blessed the dragon scales, and allowed them to make transformational armor. Five suits were made, for those three plus the demigod and the dwarf's current mates.
The demigod and dwarf have since returned to Asgard, with the now-ancient Frost Giant remaining on Midgard as the team's elder. Before leaving for Asgard the demigod and dwarf passed their dragon armor on to a son and a grandson. Freya’s grandmother Astrid had been the demigod’s human wife. She was slain two years ago by the French wizards and Freya inherited the armor, now being a full team-member (albiet the youngest and least experienced) of the five protectors of northern Europe who call their team the Asgardians. George listens intently to Freya's story understanding finally her deep-seated hatred for the French wizards.
As they get closer the two tall pyramids make for a very impressive sight. Mina comments, "They both look to be the same height, but one is actually ten feet taller, at 480 feet above the base. It was built as the Tomb for Cheops, also known as Khufu, the second king of the 4th Dynasty. He ruled approximately 5,500 years ago. The other one was built as the tomb for his son, the third king of the 4th Dynasty. He was named as Chephren, also known as Khafre. The third largest one, behind the other two, was built by Menkaure, Khafre's son and Khufu's grandson. While it stands only 250 feet in height, the stone that it is made from is fancier and more decorative."
"It must have been a boring time back then, if all they had to do was sit around and build these things," Ruby comments. Abby says, "More that all the slaves were allowed to do was build these things. And kept mildly intoxicated most of the time so they'd be less likely to get surly about it." "True, I suppose the people with the money wouldn't be doing the work, now would they?" Ruby laughs. "And drunk? One big party? Now that doesn't too terrible..." Before she can think too hard about it she shakes her head.
"Did the ogre say which pyramid they were in? We need to be on the look out for that other dirigible" says George. Mina says, "Probably none of those three, the burial chambers inside are actually not that large and it would be considered desecrating the dead to enter. He is probably at one of the six even smaller pyramids, each around 100 feet tall. One trio of them is immediately south of the smallest of these three that we see from here, and another three are east of the largest."
"Alright, well let's go see which pyramid is guarded" says George heading towards the southern pyramids. They are now a mile away from the pyramids and see the Great Sphinx ahead of them, southeast of the pyramids. It is a massive stone structure with the head of a man and body of a lion. Mina says, "The head was modeled after King Khafre." "He must been been posing a loonnngggg time for that," Ruby giggles. George grins at Ruby's little joke. Even in the middle of the desert, facing deadly risk, that woman could make him smile.
Moving in from the southeast, the three pryamids are all equi-distant at this point, a quarter mile away. Stretching from each pyramid and going a quarter mile east of each is a causeway leading to another temple. East of the largest pyramid, in addition to the three aforementioned smaller pyramids and hundreds of other smaller rectangular structures, approximately fifty-by-two-hundred feet and standing thirty feet high. Mina says those are where High Priests and other top advisors to the kings are buried. Another cluster of hundreds of smaller structures stand to the west of the largest pyramid and north of the second largest. The only structures near the smaller of the three great pyramids are the trio of smaller ones to the south of it.
"Looks like there will be some places to hide if necessary. There are tons of buildings around here," Ruby comments. Mina says, "Well, some of the buildings house the Egyptian Army Battalion that is stationed at Gizah, but George pulled them away from here and into Cairo this morning. It does not appear that any of them have returned yet." Abby asks, "But do you see any signs of guards, or the Dirigible?"
Ruby asks, "Freya, do you think you'd been seen if you fly up in the night sky?" She says, "It won't be fully dark for another hour." Ruby says, "Alright, well, we don't want to do that then. Maybe in a while if we don't have a plan in place. But I think we'll know better what to do by then. How about we just move up towards the small pyramid? They are likely in one of the bigger ones anyway." George says, "Sounds like a plan Ruby, now is the time Abby when caution is our watchword."
Lawrence dismounts and it is easier for him to sneak up on people on foot. He tries to spot any movement around the pyramids. He comments "This feels like a trap. Then again, I always feel that way." Ruby says, "Okay, so let me also go up and peek around the corner until I can spot where they are." She dismounts and hands her reins to George. She moves forward into the darkness with just a small torch in one hand and her gun out in the other.
With Lawrence and Ruby taking the lead on foot, the remainder of the group dismount and also approach on foot. They move towards the easternmost of the structures known as the Queen's pyramids (the trio of smaller pyramids closest to the Sphinx). The sun has set but the last remnants of light are still on the western horizon. The skies appear clear with a three-quarters moon.
The party approaches the first of the trio of smaller pyramids, their horses being led behind them. The wind blows across the desert and the immediate area appears empty. They whole pyramid area is darkened, although lights do shine from the built-up residential area beyond the pyramids, where the small city of Gizah sits and tens of thousands of people reside. The closest structures in this area are primarily dark, being the barracks for the thousands of troops currently in Cairo. Sabah points in that direction and says that the Temple of Bast is situated not far into the community of Gizah.
"Can we count of help from there, if we need it?" Abby asked Sabah. "Not that I expect to be able to ask for it once we get into a pyramid. I just get the feeling there's something bigger going on." She says, "Of course. I am always welcome there and you are all my friends. Plus we are working on the same objective, to preserve Egypt." Lawrence exclaims, "And preserve it we will. Let's try to keep the priestesses out of this unless necessary. We should hurry."
Ruby says, "Let's keep moving forward. Soon it will be dark and we will have the night to help cover our movement. We don't have a lot of time to waste so I don't want to leave everyone behind while I go up ahead, it's too far. And I'm not sure about taking the chance of sending Freya up into the skies, it's risky." The group continues to move up using the buildings as cover.
Chapter 89, “The Ride to Gizah”, September 11, 1882, 6:30 P.M.
Before leaving the Temple of Ra, Ruby asks, “Is there any other equipment that we might need? Perhaps the priests here might have some healing potions they could part with. Any other mundane equipment before we go?" Lawrence pipes up. "Yes, healing elixirs would come in handy. Some long guns would be nice, but I doubt they have any lying around the temple. With martial law it's probably too risky to go out looking for any either."
Ruby says, "Don't we have a whole army somewhere at our disposal? I mean, I'm sure they could spare some guns for us." She asks one of the higher clerics, "Is it possible you might have some healing potions available? We are about to aide the King and the Princess and other Royal Family members are most assuredly our lives will be in danger." Lawrence says, "Right. The Franklin Pierce should have something for us. Thanks for reminding me." "No problem Lawrence!" Ruby gave him a wink. "Do we have time to get there and get supplies before we have to run off though?"
"I don't know how useful rifles will be inside the pyramid. But I do know that we ought to get our hands on some magical ammo. We had a dickens of a time getting through some of those barriers back in the palace." suggests George. Ruby says, "Good point George. I'm not sure where to buy that but there has got to be a place here in this magical city we can get some of that." Mina says, "Not likely, with a pending war. All of the military officers with any money would have scooped them all up."
Mina then pulls out a small leather bag and pours around two-dozen bullet shells out onto the table. They note that the brass on the shells have rims plated with different metal, with four each of platnum, gold, silver, bronze, copper and nickel. She says, "But we did get these, that pouch was worn by the French Foreign Legion officer who died on the lower level of the Dreadnaught. The bullets are a unique size." She then takes out a small wooden case and opens it up to show a pair of revolvers and says, "This case was near the door. These are custom-made dueling pistols, which are just single-shot weapons. There's no way of knowing what the different bullet types do."
"Well, no time to test, if we need to we try in battle" replies George. Ruby says, "Well, we've got two guns and some magic bullets. We'll save them for if and when we absolutely have to make a shot and hope the bullets help. Who is getting the guns?" "Why don't you and Abby take them." suggests George.
Abby says, "Alright, although I'd like a weapon with standard ammunition as well if we can get our hands on it. If we're in tight quarters I don't want to be firing rounds that could be explosive. No good to take out an enemy if you take yourself and your friends out at the same time." "heck if Ruby hasn't blown us up yet, you won't" laughs George. Abby widened her eyes comically. "Oh, a challenge!"
Ruby says, "We have to be able to get you a gun somewhere Abby. I'm surprised you haven't been carrying on around all this time!" Abby shrugged with a little smile. "I've never been in a battle before. I'm actually better with a firearm than with my blade, but generally I've only needed to drive off or discourage locals around the cities near dig sites. I haven't needed more than my spells and the blade for that."
"Alright I'll take one," Ruby says while pulling one of the new guns out of the case. She takes two of each of the colored bullets. "This should be interesting, not knowing what these do. So, what's our plan next? Just ride out to the pyramid since we probably can't get any other magic on the street at this point?" "In any case, I think, well, I hope we will only need guns to get through any guards and to deal with the French, I am counting on Diplomacy to win the day with the King." adds George.
Hardin arrives with the party's horses. He receives messages from the group and then rides back to the telegraph office where Cetan, Meren and Alsoomse still are, leaving the other seven mounts for the party. Ruby declares, "Alright then, so do we have everything we need or should I say, everything we're going to have to leave then?"
Dressed in the robes of Priests, Priestesses and Acolytes, the seven mount up and proceed westward through the city of a half-million people. Under martial law the city appears strangely deserted, with soldiers at the major intersections but nobody else about. Sabah shows the soldiers her holy symbol of Bast and explains that it is urgent that they get to Gizah as quickly as possible. Abby stayed close to Sabah, but kept her head down, as an acolyte might, but ready to take action if she had to.
In order to exit the city they have to cross tributaries of the Nile at two separate locations. The first has a bridge that they cross after considerable discussion with the Army Captain in charge of guarding it. The second requires a crossing in a ferry boat, which presents a problem as the ferryboat operator fears that if he leaves the boathouse the soldiers will shoot him for not being in his home. The ferry boat consists of a small flat barge with side rails and the steam powered motor on the end besides the steering wheel that is connected underneath to the rudder.
George asks the man if they can pay for the ferry ride but that George will pilot the boat so the ferryman will be safe. They settle upon a generous price which George pay. It takes a little while to secure the horses and to bring the fire up to a full head of steam, but once that it done they proceed across the Nile with relative ease. Once on the opposite shore the fire is lowered and the craft secured.
Abby scanned the area before taking the horse's reins and leading it off the ferry. It would be foolish to assume no one would try to stop them from reaching the Pyramid, and she was tired of being taken off her guard. With the ferry secured George leads the groups swiftly towards the pyramid. Noting Abby's watchfulness George comments "Caution is always valuable Abby, but we must move with alacrity. We have a deadline of midnight." Abby states, "Dead will slow you down considerably more."
"But she is right George, we must keep our eyes open too." Ruby hops up onto her horse. It was always tense before a fight and who knew what they were going to come up against. She stole a glance back towards her grandmother. The older woman gave her a reassuring smile. She had done this many more times than Ruby had and it did reassure her. "Alright. Do we have a plan once we get there? I guess we'll have to see what it's like once we arrive but we could certainly try to use the way we..." She stops short and gives Abby a knowing glance, wondering how completely they can trust Sabah. George smiles "Oh indeed, that is true. But if we move cautiously to reach the pyramids safely, but too late to save the country we may be dead regardless."
It takes a mile before they leave the outer sections of Cairo and head off into the dessert in the direction of the distant pyramids. Freya tells the party some of her background. Her Grandfather was an actual Asgardian. Their story goes back almost a thousand years, when a trio consisting of an Asgardian demigod in human form, an Asgardian dwarf and an Asgardian Frost Giant came to Midgard (Earth) to help the Viking people. Their quests lasted for centuries and the demigod sired many children with earth women, just as the Asgardian dwarf did with earth dwarves.
Their final quest was at the beginning of this century, against Napoleon's armies, when the French leader desired to take over northern Europe. During that quest they also retrieved from France the stuffed carcass of a Black Dragon Earth Spirit who had once been a friend of the Viking people. Odin in turn blessed the dragon scales, and allowed them to make transformational armor. Five suits were made, for those three plus the demigod and the dwarf's current mates.
The demigod and dwarf have since returned to Asgard, with the now-ancient Frost Giant remaining on Midgard as the team's elder. Before leaving for Asgard the demigod and dwarf passed their dragon armor on to a son and a grandson. Freya’s grandmother Astrid had been the demigod’s human wife. She was slain two years ago by the French wizards and Freya inherited the armor, now being a full team-member (albiet the youngest and least experienced) of the five protectors of northern Europe who call their team the Asgardians. George listens intently to Freya's story understanding finally her deep-seated hatred for the French wizards.
As they get closer the two tall pyramids make for a very impressive sight. Mina comments, "They both look to be the same height, but one is actually ten feet taller, at 480 feet above the base. It was built as the Tomb for Cheops, also known as Khufu, the second king of the 4th Dynasty. He ruled approximately 5,500 years ago. The other one was built as the tomb for his son, the third king of the 4th Dynasty. He was named as Chephren, also known as Khafre. The third largest one, behind the other two, was built by Menkaure, Khafre's son and Khufu's grandson. While it stands only 250 feet in height, the stone that it is made from is fancier and more decorative."
"It must have been a boring time back then, if all they had to do was sit around and build these things," Ruby comments. Abby says, "More that all the slaves were allowed to do was build these things. And kept mildly intoxicated most of the time so they'd be less likely to get surly about it." "True, I suppose the people with the money wouldn't be doing the work, now would they?" Ruby laughs. "And drunk? One big party? Now that doesn't too terrible..." Before she can think too hard about it she shakes her head.
"Did the ogre say which pyramid they were in? We need to be on the look out for that other dirigible" says George. Mina says, "Probably none of those three, the burial chambers inside are actually not that large and it would be considered desecrating the dead to enter. He is probably at one of the six even smaller pyramids, each around 100 feet tall. One trio of them is immediately south of the smallest of these three that we see from here, and another three are east of the largest."
"Alright, well let's go see which pyramid is guarded" says George heading towards the southern pyramids. They are now a mile away from the pyramids and see the Great Sphinx ahead of them, southeast of the pyramids. It is a massive stone structure with the head of a man and body of a lion. Mina says, "The head was modeled after King Khafre." "He must been been posing a loonnngggg time for that," Ruby giggles. George grins at Ruby's little joke. Even in the middle of the desert, facing deadly risk, that woman could make him smile.
Moving in from the southeast, the three pryamids are all equi-distant at this point, a quarter mile away. Stretching from each pyramid and going a quarter mile east of each is a causeway leading to another temple. East of the largest pyramid, in addition to the three aforementioned smaller pyramids and hundreds of other smaller rectangular structures, approximately fifty-by-two-hundred feet and standing thirty feet high. Mina says those are where High Priests and other top advisors to the kings are buried. Another cluster of hundreds of smaller structures stand to the west of the largest pyramid and north of the second largest. The only structures near the smaller of the three great pyramids are the trio of smaller ones to the south of it.
"Looks like there will be some places to hide if necessary. There are tons of buildings around here," Ruby comments. Mina says, "Well, some of the buildings house the Egyptian Army Battalion that is stationed at Gizah, but George pulled them away from here and into Cairo this morning. It does not appear that any of them have returned yet." Abby asks, "But do you see any signs of guards, or the Dirigible?"
Ruby asks, "Freya, do you think you'd been seen if you fly up in the night sky?" She says, "It won't be fully dark for another hour." Ruby says, "Alright, well, we don't want to do that then. Maybe in a while if we don't have a plan in place. But I think we'll know better what to do by then. How about we just move up towards the small pyramid? They are likely in one of the bigger ones anyway." George says, "Sounds like a plan Ruby, now is the time Abby when caution is our watchword."
Lawrence dismounts and it is easier for him to sneak up on people on foot. He tries to spot any movement around the pyramids. He comments "This feels like a trap. Then again, I always feel that way." Ruby says, "Okay, so let me also go up and peek around the corner until I can spot where they are." She dismounts and hands her reins to George. She moves forward into the darkness with just a small torch in one hand and her gun out in the other.
With Lawrence and Ruby taking the lead on foot, the remainder of the group dismount and also approach on foot. They move towards the easternmost of the structures known as the Queen's pyramids (the trio of smaller pyramids closest to the Sphinx). The sun has set but the last remnants of light are still on the western horizon. The skies appear clear with a three-quarters moon.
The party approaches the first of the trio of smaller pyramids, their horses being led behind them. The wind blows across the desert and the immediate area appears empty. They whole pyramid area is darkened, although lights do shine from the built-up residential area beyond the pyramids, where the small city of Gizah sits and tens of thousands of people reside. The closest structures in this area are primarily dark, being the barracks for the thousands of troops currently in Cairo. Sabah points in that direction and says that the Temple of Bast is situated not far into the community of Gizah.
"Can we count of help from there, if we need it?" Abby asked Sabah. "Not that I expect to be able to ask for it once we get into a pyramid. I just get the feeling there's something bigger going on." She says, "Of course. I am always welcome there and you are all my friends. Plus we are working on the same objective, to preserve Egypt." Lawrence exclaims, "And preserve it we will. Let's try to keep the priestesses out of this unless necessary. We should hurry."
Ruby says, "Let's keep moving forward. Soon it will be dark and we will have the night to help cover our movement. We don't have a lot of time to waste so I don't want to leave everyone behind while I go up ahead, it's too far. And I'm not sure about taking the chance of sending Freya up into the skies, it's risky." The group continues to move up using the buildings as cover.